All this automation is a little creepy

[blockend]

I have fully automatic cameras and I have manual cameras. While I could live without the autos, I'd find it hard to survive without the clunkers. If there is a sweet spot it may be the Canon AV-1, a model I remember ranting against when it first came out. Aperture priority only, but with a big doughnut override in half stop increments. No push buttons, no LCDs, just a crank handle, a twist focus lens and that can't-miss compensation dial.

On the subject of prices, I bought three (!) mint Minolta AF bodies from the 90s for £17 total. They're so light that if it weren't for the fact they produce pictures I'd swear the things were empty display models. That's an SLR camera for the price of a film. Absolutely crazy.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The larger the format I use, the less automated it is. [Well, generally, I have a 35mm folder with no light meter and no rangefinder and a 120 folder with not light meter but it has a rangefinder.]

Steve

 

[6x9]

This is the funniest rant ever!

 

[Marvin]

I had a different experience as I was using My Nikon F5 D200 and N80 and decided to take out my old X700 Minolta. I touched the shutter button and nothing happened after a couple of seconds I realized no autofocus. After taking a picture I started to take a second and nothing happened oh forgot to wind it. Changed to a different film guess I better set that ISO speed. I have to say that I like both old and new systems. I also have a Bronica ETRSi that is completely manual and enjoy using it also.

 

[fotch]

The problem with automation is you have to learn to think like the designer (of the system or software) thinks. Example:Bill Gates probally never had a problem with Windoze 95.

While different levels of automation can be desirable and useful at times, weak batteries can always thrash plans to use same.

Where as, using the most powerful computer known, the human computer, you can self automate and get along fine without any batteries. Just look at some of the most amazing images taken in the past with only manual cameras. Automation is just something else to sell or buy, but not always beneficial or needed.

JMHO

 

[Mr.canon]

Don't really see a problem in this "automation". As you can switch most of it off. Ive got an EOS 5 and its always in the M modus. The rest is just not usefull i think. And in the M modus its not much different then my AE-1 apart from some auto winding etc. Sure i like shooting with my AE-1 (getting into my 3th roll) but the EOS handels a lot better. Which make sense as it is about 12years younger . What i don't like is what my 450D does for me. Its confusing. If you look at the light meter it says you have to do that but if you shoot the light isnt good? So i always shoot with a lower shutter time then needed. Don't really have that problem with my 5 and AE. And as said in another topic,those pictures are 90% sharp and the light is great. So as long as it isnt digital its great

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

All modes are useful, just a matter of habit for many photographers what they actually favour most. My EOS 1N is usually in Av mode when intervalometer back E1 is attached; else, the 1N is in Manual so that 2 spot meter readings can be averaged. In a sense, you do the same thing (albeit more intensively) with a spot meter (I know I do with my Sekonic L758 for pinhole work). You can have as much or as little automation you need or want just by altering the camera, or in some cases, the settings on the camera. It's great to get touchy-feely with the entirely manual work of a pinhole camera. I have serious reservations about the extreme level of automation in digi cameras that leaves many otherwise enthusiastic users disenfranchised and upset when results aren't what they expected (because, of course, the camera is doing everything for them...).

 

[Marco B]

but advancing the film is what my right hand expects to be doing while I'm concentrating on the image!

I think I'm gonna go finish up the roll, then realign my brain by shooting a plate camera for a while.

I wonder what your right hand has been doing all that time you shot plate cameras...

 

[swchris]

What I hate about auto-advancing on my F4 and F5 is that they advance to frame #1. With my F2 and FM I start shooting at frame #0 and it always works. Sometimes even frame #-1 is ok, but I don't rely on it and only shoot a fun shot with it.
So I lose one frame with the auto-advancing....

 

[dnjl]

What I hate about auto-advancing on my F4 and F5 is that they advance to frame #1. With my F2 and FM I start shooting at frame #0 and it always works. Sometimes even frame #-1 is ok, but I don't rely on it and only shoot a fun shot with it.
So I lose one frame with the auto-advancing....

Agreed, that really is a pain. But apart from this inconvenience, I really like many of the automated features found in newer analog bodies. I shoot in Av or Tv mode most of the time, only switching to full manual when necessary. I have to admit though that I completely ignore the eye control (selecting AF point by simply looking at it) on my Elan7. It works, but I don't like it.

 

[benjiboy]

I agree that there's no law to make you use all the automatic exposure functions and you have the option of using them or not,but you can't switch off the built in motor wind on modern film SLR s which for some types of photography that require stealth renders them useless.

 

[totalmotard]

It's strange, my N80 feels very natural to me because I've been shooting digital slrs for so long. My Nikkormat feels very natural to me because I grew up shooting a Pentax K1000. The FE feels less natural to me because it has some exposure automation like the N80 but has the manual focus of the manual camera.

I think the key is to find a way of creating a photograph so that the camera is a natural extension of the photographer's vision. Not a rigid interpretation of what is correct or incorrect.